The building did not fare quite as well, though crews were able to limit most damage from the fire, which started just after 9 a.m., to the roof, attic and rooftop deck. Garner said one of the six apartment units inside might have some smoke and water damage.

Apartment resident Mario Piccolo said he smelled something unusual earlier that morning as he watered his flowers on the roof deck. Later, he said he saw a lot of smoke coming from the roof and hurried to get out.

"I was more scared once I got down here and realized what was going on," he said.

Large, dark plumes of smoke could be seen from several vantage points downtown and as far away as Interstate 24.

Jack McDonald, who lives nearby and who also owns property in the area, said it was a frightening, smoky scene.

"I looked up and [smoke] was just billowing out," he said.

Sara Terlecki was on the bottom floor, packing her lunch to take to work, when city workers repairing a nearby sidewalk knocked on the windows to tell her to get out of the building. She made it out unharmed, but was anxious to get back in to see if any of her property had been damaged. She was optimistic because most of it already was boxed up for a move when her lease is up in the next few weeks.